San Diego County is having its cleanest year on record for ozone.
Ozone, better known as smog, is an air pollutant that stings the eyes and can damage the lungs, and San Diego county has yet to record a day this year in which its air quality has exceeded federal standards for ozone.
Bob Kard is the control officer for the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District. He said the low ozone levels are due in part to the cool temperatures we've had this year. He said they're also due to advancing technology and higher standards for dealing with auto and power plant emissions.
"Although we've had tremendous population growth and growth in motor vehicle traffic and on-road motor vehicles, we've actually reduced emissions substantially," said Kard.
He added that the warm months of summer are the worst ones for smog, and San Diego may end up exceeding federal standards later in the year as it has every year in the past.
